Device for handling of toner powder

ABSTRACT

A device for handling volatile particles, during emptying of vessels containing the particles, includes an opening for emptying the particles, a collection vessel for emptied particles, placed mainly vertically below the opening in order to catch particles that fall down by gravitation, an airflow creating element, at least one filter, whereby the airflow creating element is capable of creating an airflow through the opening towards the collection vessel, as well as an airflow guiding element arranged such that the direction of the airflow is altered towards the filter in order to catch particles that are brought with the airflow.

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to a device for handling and collection oftoner powder at a filling station for filling of toner cassettes.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

There is a large market for recycling and refilling of toner cassettes.Partly it is more environmentally friendly to recycle and reuse of tonercassettes when these have been emptied and moreover they are in mostcases somewhat cheaper to purchase than original cassettes.

The applicant for the present invention has developed and patented amethod and device for refilling of toner powder in a toner cassettecomprising a device for creating a passage into the toner cassette and afilling device of new powder comprising an entry means and feeding meansfor feeding in of the powder through the entry means and into the tonercassette. After this the passage is closed.

In order to refill toner powder in a toner cassette this has to becleaned before it is possible to change components and to refill withnew toner. The toner powder has a very small particle size such as finedust with sizes of 0, 5 to 15 microns and is therefore very easilyairborne and may cause problem for the person that is to clean thecassette. Further toner powder does easily pollute the surroundingenvironment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It is an aim with the present invention to provide a device that canhandle airborne dust such as for example toner powder.

This aim is obtained by a device that is characterised by the featuresof the independent patent claim 1. Preferable embodiments of theinvention are apparent from the dependent claims.

According to a main aspect of the invention it is characterized by adevice for handling volatile particles, during emptying of vesselscontaining said particles, a collection vessel for emptied particles,placed mainly vertically below the opening in order to catch particlesthat fall down by gravitation, an airflow creating means, at least onefilter, whereby the airflow creating means is capable of create anairflow through the opening towards the said collection vessel, as wellas an airflow guiding means arranged such that the direction of theairflow is altered towards the filter in order to catch particles thatare brought with the airflow.

According to another aspect of the invention the said filter is placedin the vicinity of said opening, that said air flow guiding means iscapable of changing the direction of the air flow such that it passesthrough said opening.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the said air flowguiding means comprises a plate placed in said opening in a mainlyvertical position, whereby said opening is divided into twopart-openings where the air flow is going down in one part-opening andthe other in the second part-opening.

According to another aspect of the invention said air flow guiding meansfurther comprises a pipe that extends between the opening and thecollection vessel.

Preferably the said filter is arranged with a certain angle over thesecond part-opening. Further the filter also preferably comprises anabsolute filter. The air flow creating means is suitably a fan.

The advantages with the present invention are several. The deviceascertains that particles that are emptied through the opening fallsdown towards the collection vessel and are brought by the air stream.However, because the air flow guiding means is capable of deflecting theair stream towards the filter, very volatile particles are caught by thefilter, which volatile particles otherwise would be brought into theenvironment because they are so small and light that they are affectedmore by air movements than the gravitational force.

Preferably the air stream is guided both down and up through the openingand that the filter is placed in the air stream, whereby the filter cantake care of particles in the air flow according to above, but alsoparticles that can be present above the opening, for example duringcareless emptying.

A preferable air guide means is a plate placed generally vertically inthe opening, whereby two part-openings are created. Further the airguide means comprises a pipe that extends between the opening and thecollection vessel. This design provides the advantage that the speed ofthe downwardly directed air stream is reduced when it has passed theplate because the volume increases. Therefore the main part of the tonerparticles will fall down into the collection vessel. The very small andvolatile particles continue in the air stream and are caught by thefilter.

In order to really ascertain that no particles enter the environment thefilter consists of two parts, a pre-filter that catches the main part ofthe particles and a subsequent absolute filter that catches theremaining particles.

These and other aspects of and advantages with the present inventionwill become apparent from the following detailed description and fromthe accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference willbe made to the accompanying drawings, of which

FIG. 1 shows an example of a work station for filling of toner powder intoner cassettes where the present invention may be used,

FIG. 2 shows a view in perspective of the present invention, and

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the device of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows an example of a work station 10 for filling of tonercassettes where the present invention may be comprised. The work stationcomprises a work bench 12, a passage-making device 14 for creating apassage in the toner cassette, through which toner powder may be filled.There is also a filling device 16 comprising an entry means that isplaced in the passage of the cassette as well as feeding means forfeeding toner powder from a container 17 through the entry means andinto the toner cassette.

As mentioned above a cleaning of the toner cassette is needed before itcan be filled with toner powder. In order to do this the work bench hasbeen arranged with a hole or opening 20, FIG. 2, that in the shownembodiment is rectangular. Below the opening a rectangular pipe-shapedstructure 22 with four walls is arranged. A sack 24 may be attachedaround the pipe. In the opening a plate 26 is arranged in a generallyvertical position and parallel with the front edge of the table so thata rear 20 a and a front 20 b opening are formed in the opening. In thefront opening a grid 27 is arranged. Behind the rear opening a filter 28is arranged, hereafter named pre-filter, generally standing but with acertain inclination towards the rear opening. A suitable angle isbetween 13-15 degrees from the vertical. The pre-filter is releasiblyattached with suitable holders (not shown) in order to be cleaned. Thepre-filter may be made of polyester material. Behind the pre-filter asuction fan 30 is arranged, preferably a centrifugal fan. Between thepre-filter and the fan a very fine filter 32 is arranged, an absolutefilter, also named HEPA-filter.

The device is intended to be used as follows. The cassette that is to becleaned is shaken against the grid 27 in the front opening whereby theremaining tone powder in the cassette falls down in the sack 24 bygravitation. The grid prevents that tools and other things on the worktable fall through the opening.

In order to take care of the very small airborne toner particles the fan30 is operating during use. The fan creates a flow that flows throughthe front opening 20 b, around the lower edge of the plate 26, upthrough the rear opening 20 a and through first the pre-filter 28 andthen the absolute filter 32. This flow also makes the heavier particlesto be drawn down towards the sack. When the air has passed the plate 26,the volume and the air speed decreases and the majority of the tonerparticles fall down in the sack.

The very light and small particles follow however the air stream uptowards the rear opening and the majority of the particles are caught inthe pre-filter 28. By static charge of the particles, they are drawn toeach other and create large groups of particles, which may be easilyremoved and then fall down in the sack. Particles that are spread in theair above the opening, due to careless cleaning, will be sucked directlyto the pre-filter. The very small amounts of small particles that passthe pre-filter will be caught by the absolute filter. After a certainuse the sack with the collected dust may be easily replaced, without anydust entering the surrounding air.

It is to be understood that the invention described above and shown inthe drawings only is to be regarded as non-limiting example of theinvention and that it may be modified in many ways within the scope ofthe patent claims. It is therefore to be understood that the inventionmay be used with other types of dangerous and irritating dust withingenerally the same particle size. It is also to be understood that othersuitable types of filters, fans, air flow guides and the design andpositioning of these may be modified within the frame of the patentclaims.

1. Device for handling volatile particles, during emptying of vesselscontaining said particles, comprising: an opening in the device foremptying of particles, a collection vessel for emptied particles, placedmainly vertically below the opening in order to catch particles thatfall down by gravitation, an airflow creating means, at least onefilter, whereby the airflow creating means is capable of create anairflow through the opening towards the said collection vessel, as wellas an airflow guiding means arranged such that the direction of theairflow is altered towards the filter in order to catch particles thatare brought with the airflow.
 2. Device according to claim 1, whereinsaid filter is placed in the vicinity of said opening, and said air flowguiding means is capable of changing the direction of the air flow suchthat it passes up through said opening.
 3. Device according to claim 2,wherein said air flow guiding means comprises a plate placed in saidopening in a mainly vertical position, whereby said opening is dividedinto two part-openings where the air flow is going down in onepart-opening and the other in the second part-opening.
 4. Deviceaccording to claim 3, wherein said air flow guiding means furthercomprises a pipe that extends between the opening and the collectionvessel.
 5. Device according to claim 3, wherein said filter is arrangedwith a certain angle over the second part-opening.
 6. Device accordingto claim 1, wherein the filter also comprises an absolute filter. 7.Device according to claim 1, wherein the air flow creating meanssuitably is a fan.
 8. Device according to claim 4, wherein said filteris arranged with a certain angle over the second part-opening.
 9. Deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein the filter also comprises an absolutefilter.
 10. Device according to claim 2, wherein the air flow creatingmeans suitably is a fan.